GorillaTheater Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 My former stepfather worked in security and was a marine; he always did this, as well. Felt like he had the whole place sized up right after we sat down. Tactical seating. I want to face the entrance and would rather people not be behind me if possible. Don't where it came from, exactly, but it's definitely a thing. My wife and I generally sit across from each other. I like to look at her, but I'm not sure what her reasoning would be. 1
alphamale Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 This is super annoying and immature. It says to me that the couple has nothing meaningful between them other than physical contact, and they don't even care about eating the meal in the restaurant because they are crowding each other's plate-to-face arm movement. Save the money and just go neck in the backseat of the car instead, but please don't subject the rest of us to your mawkish, horn-doggery. wtf? annoying and immature? 3
PegNosePete Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 No one mentioned sitting 2 sides of a corner yet? It's the best of both worlds especially in the early dating days. Across from each other is too like an interview, beside each other lack of eye contact, on a corner just right! 7
SJ1975 Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 I do this with my date right now and we like it.
lurker74 Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 The women who I am currently with insists on same side seating. It doesn't bother me and has led to some fun under the table stuff. I would prefer to sit across because it makes communication easier but I am nothing if not accommodating. And I don't understand why it would bother anyone else (unless you saw the under the table stuff, I guess). 2
SumGuy Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 No one mentioned sitting 2 sides of a corner yet? It's the best of both worlds especially in the early dating days. Across from each other is too like an interview, beside each other lack of eye contact, on a corner just right! I find that perfect as well.
PRW Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 (edited) Sitting across can be interpreted as confrontational, on the same side shows an image of agreement. It is also more intimate, allows for touching with out being as obvious as reaching across the table. If two couples are at a booth they almost always sit together on the same side, so with it being one couple should be any different. I would also like restaurants to have single-couple booths where the couple sits with their back to the wall and face outward with no seats on the outer side of the table. Ethyl's Smokehouse & Saloon in O'Fallon, Mo has booths like this that have a cover above them to simulate sitting in an old Model-T car. The seats are a little too big since they can hold 4 people with the wrap on the ends. But two people fit nicely in them. Edited November 14, 2019 by a LoveShack.org Moderator Commercial link
mark clemson Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 a friend I had rejected many times throughout the years and he would always sit next to me in a booth with his leg touching mine. So I would scoot away, and he's scoot closer, and pretty soon I'd end up literally smashed against the wall with no where to put my arms and his leg still touching mine. Hahah. Case study on what NOT to do to exit the friend zone.
central Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 It all depends - mostly on the table or booth itself, but also on what we're doing or discussing. If it's a romantic outing, we'll often sit side by side if we can - but, we'll also do so if we are reviewing paperwork or planning a route, so we can share the information. For small square tables, we'll usually sit at adjoining sides. As for what other people think - that's their issue, not ours (unless we're traveling someplace with a cultural taboo or some such nonsense).
Ruby Slippers Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 This thread is hilarious, really illustrates how people have wildly different interpretations of the same innocuous event based on their own subjective assumptions and feelings. It's not hard to turn your head 30 degrees to converse with someone sitting right next to you. That's also what you do when you're with a group, with some people across from you and some on either side of you. The extent of PDA in this situation for me has been his hand on my leg for a moment or two, slight brushes of the elbows/arms, maybe a little peck on the lips at the end, which we might do in any case, and if people don't like that, they can look away It also makes it a lot easier to share a bit of your food, which I've always loved doing as it's so sweet and intimate. In general, I think one's reaction to this gives insight into their feelings on closeness and intimacy in a romantic relationship. 2
vla1120 Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 My estranged husband would always sit on the same side of the booth as me. I never questioned it. I figured it was either a Greek thing, or he was sitting next to me so that I could hear since I am deaf in one ear. I'm a live and let live type person. As long as they're not bothering me, I don't care what someone is doing in their own space on their own time. 3
alphamale Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 It also makes it a lot easier to share a bit of your food, which I've always loved doing as it's so sweet and intimate. ok this is where I draw the line....NO SHARING OF FOOD! I don't want to share my food or have some of your food. If I wanted what you're eating I would have ordered it in the first place. What I ordered is mine, mine, mine..don't ask me for any. I HATE SHARING FOOD :mad: 2
Ruby Slippers Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 ok this is where I draw the line....NO SHARING OF FOOD! I don't want to share my food or have some of your food. If I wanted what you're eating I would have ordered it in the first place. What I ordered is mine, mine, mine..don't ask me for any. I HATE SHARING FOOD :mad: Ugh, it would never work between us, alpha. Sharing is caring Funny, though, while I loved that my last bf was very into trying a little of each other's everything, it annoyed me that he'd start trying to divvy everything up the MOMENT the plates landed on the table. I was like JEEZ, give me a minute to look at this nice plate of food and take a bite before you start messing it all up! We once got into a little tiff on Valentine's Day when he plopped some of his spinach right down into my pretty little squiggle of sauce that had been carefully drizzled onto the plate. I think I said something like, "Do you have to SLOP your food onto my plate before I even take a bite?" And he was like, "Excuse me for trying to share with you!!" :lmao: 1
SJ1975 Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 The women who I am currently with insists on same side seating. It doesn't bother me and has led to some fun under the table stuff. I would prefer to sit across because it makes communication easier but I am nothing if not accommodating. And I don't understand why it would bother anyone else (unless you saw the under the table stuff, I guess). Hahaha....who would want to see that
RecentChange Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 This is super annoying and immature. It says to me that the couple has nothing meaningful between them other than physical contact, and they don't even care about eating the meal in the restaurant because they are crowding each other's plate-to-face arm movement. Save the money and just go neck in the backseat of the car instead, but please don't subject the rest of us to your mawkish, horn-doggery. :lmao: OMG This response makes me want to sit on the same side of the table more often - just the thought that someone would allow it to ruffle their feathers like this. Glad to know after 19 years all my husband and I have in common is our horn-doggery No one mentioned sitting 2 sides of a corner yet? It's the best of both worlds especially in the early dating days. Across from each other is too like an interview, beside each other lack of eye contact, on a corner just right! Yes! My husband and I go out to dinner often and this is my ideal. Small square table - we sit on the corners next to each other. Half round booth we sit near each other - where we can face each other or look out. I prefer both to sitting across or next to each other. So many restaurants are loud these days and I hate leaning over a table to hear him. Luckily being as it's just the two of us we usually get a table where we can sit at the corner. As many have mentioned - given a choice - he will be sitting with a wall to his back and the room within view. 2
Eternal Sunshine Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 I don't care where/how couples are sitting. I don't observe them as I have zero interest in relationships and romance at present. As long as they don't sit close to me, I am good 1
RecentChange Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 ok this is where I draw the line....NO SHARING OF FOOD! I don't want to share my food or have some of your food. If I wanted what you're eating I would have ordered it in the first place. What I ordered is mine, mine, mine..don't ask me for any. I HATE SHARING FOOD :mad: Curious, why does it bother you? What about Asian food that is often served family style? At my office we will order food in, sometimes Chinese or Thai, we each pick out something and then all share. Except for this one guy, he would pick one thing, and eat only that and now share - I always found it so weird. Ya really want all that mushu pork huh? Ugh, it would never work between us, alpha. Sharing is caring Funny, though, while I loved that my last bf was very into trying a little of each other's everything, it annoyed me that he'd start trying to divvy everything up the MOMENT the plates landed on the table. I was like JEEZ, give me a minute to look at this nice plate of food and take a bite before you start messing it all up! My husband and I share all the time - but yeah the divvying up the plates would be annoying! Here's how it usually goes for us "what do you think you are get?" - "I don't know! Both the scallops and cioppino sound really good" - "oh I was looking at both of those as well - want to share?" - yeah! This way we can have a greater variety. Also I am way less picky, so if he ends up not liking his choice I'll switch with him. We regularly split salads as well - to be it's just yet another benefit of being in a relationship, someone to share dinner with! 1
SumGuy Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 This thread is hilarious, really illustrates how people have wildly different interpretations of the same innocuous event based on their own subjective assumptions and feelings. ... I think you could say that about many threads and many personal interactions. Of course, when people get upset the interactions are not described as innocuous but freighted with meaning and typically the implication that no reasonable mind can differ or would see it any other way, certainly the interpreters friends do not. 1
The Outlaw Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 I prefer facing her so we can have a face to face conversation.
Kitty Tantrum Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 mobsters always sat facing the entrance That's my preference. Facing the entrance, and ideally in a back corner where there's nobody behind me... though it matters less if it's a booth with a decently high back. Being sat at a table in the middle of the room with nothing but a chair back separating me from other diners and people moving around behind me is the WORST. In THAT scenario, I prefer to have him sit across from me - that way he can see what's going on behind me, and I can see what's going on behind him. RE: sharing food, when my fiance and I go out, we usually only order one thing and split it. If we're particularly hungry, maybe one entree and one appetizer. Basically he orders what he wants and I have a few bites. Ordering two separate entrees is almost unheard of for us at this point. Helps keep his bank account at least marginally more padded than my waistline. 1
Ruby Slippers Posted November 12, 2019 Posted November 12, 2019 I think you could say that about many threads and many personal interactions. Of course, when people get upset the interactions are not described as innocuous but freighted with meaning and typically the implication that no reasonable mind can differ or would see it any other way, certainly the interpreters friends do not. Yes, it's very eye-opening.
Author harnold Posted November 13, 2019 Author Posted November 13, 2019 No one mentioned sitting 2 sides of a corner yet? It's the best of both worlds especially in the early dating days. Across from each other is too like an interview, beside each other lack of eye contact, on a corner just right! I prefer this to across the table for sure. it's pretty nice, although I do think side by side gets the edge for me just for sheer intimacy. This thread is hilarious, really illustrates how people have wildly different interpretations of the same innocuous event based on their own subjective assumptions and feelings isn't it interesting!
h0000 Posted November 13, 2019 Posted November 13, 2019 What’s wrong with PDA? Anyone who hates it should think why he/she hates his /her life so much that he/she can’t stand seeing other ppl happy lol 1
Art.at.Heart Posted November 13, 2019 Posted November 13, 2019 In my opinion, if your only reason not to do this (or a lot of things in general) is because you're concerned with what people's reactions will be, then that's a bigger issue. If you want to sit close to your other half, who gives a damn what some random person sitting across the restaurant thinks? 2
LivingWaterPlease Posted November 13, 2019 Posted November 13, 2019 I'm one of the side-corner or across-the-table peeps! Don't want to sit on the same side because I enjoy watching my partner's face, smile, eyes, etc. as we eat, talk and flirt (if it's a date). Even with same sex people (just friends!), I like to see their faces when talking with them as expressions are so interesting to me and say so much! Given a choice I like to sit where I can see most of the people in the room. I really don't care what seating arrangement folks at other tables choose. As far as sharing food goes, I'm fine with it if it's prearranged, as RecentChange described where both people are interested in two different things. So then it's convenient to split the two orders. And I don't care if my date wants to taste something from my plate once in a while but not as a habit. I don't pick off his plate and wouldn't expect him to pick off of mine as a general rule. This may be for another thread but since we're talking about eating out, what about wait staff? There's a waitress at a popular restaurant (fine dining) I frequent whom I almost expect to burst out in song when she takes our order! Like, a big voluminous musical presentation, "The hills are alive with the sound of muuuusic!...." She is downright bombastic! When she takes our order it's as if she's on stage, her face moving all around in exaggerated smiles and eyes big and round. Have never seen anything quite like it! She does act in the theater, too, though, so... She's young (around 20-26 at most), has beautiful creamy skin, rosy cheeks, dark eyes and hair. She's maybe about forty-fifty pounds as to what I consider to be overweight. And is tall. I have had to get used to her because I couldn't believe she was for real the first couple times she waited on us. She would be a great character on some sitcom.
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